Elementary bodybuilding knowledge includes the concept that muscle growth doesn’t occur without the right mix of protein consumption. Proteins, or amino acids, are basic building blocks for muscles, so the concept of consuming protein while you try to build muscles makes some sense. No amount of training is going to cause your body to grow new muscle without protein consumption.
Some bodybuilding enthusiasts go as far as to recommend consuming 1 gram of protein for each pound of body weight. This amount of consumption goes beyond what will show up in a normal, healthy diet. Consuming this much protein requires special supplementation. Of course, only the most serious bodybuilding workouts will make use of so much protein. But, for such workouts, you don’t want to put in so much work without getting the results you’re for which you’re working.
Timing
Timing is an important issue for workouts and protein consumption. After all, you need to figure out what the best times are for each in relation to the other, in order to make the protein available to your body just when your body needs it to build new muscles.
- Eat some protein for breakfast.
If you’ve gotten a good night’s sleep, your body should be in a ready mode for energy. You’ll also need some high-energy food, such as complex carbohydrates. If you don’t eat well for breakfast, your body will begin to break down your muscle to use it as energy. This is the last thing you want while you are trying to build more muscle.
- Eat a little protein during the day, especially around your workouts.
If you drink milk regularly, you may benefit from the casein protein, which digests more slowly and provides some continual protein availability for muscle growth. So whenever you do some workouts that tear and prepare your muscle tissues for growth, you’ll have the necessary protein available to support this growth. Still, you may want to take in a protein shake right before and right after your workout if you’re a serious bodybuilder.
- Eat a little protein for supper following days involving vigorous workouts.
While your body is replenishing and rebuilding itself, your muscles can take part in the nightly benefits you receive. Again, if you drink some milk, this will provide some continuous protein availability to support your muscle growth over a period of time. For the most serious bodybuilders, dietary habits involve timing protein consumption to last throughout the day in order to maximize growth. So consider carefully which days you need a little extra protein at supper time to get you the results you want, even while you’re sleeping.
